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Is there a noticeable difference between painted vs purchased tiles?

We are in the minute budget category and attempting to save the bathroom. There will be many questions, however,

1. has anyone painted bathroom tiles white and installed new white tiles next to them and if so, is their a blindingly obvious difference between the two?
I'm only at the huge need to scrape, fill and seal stage, but I'm curious about the prospect of painting the shower tiles white and also adding additional fresh, white tiles along the wall next to the shower, above the end of that bath, and trying a bit of a wrap around idea to half way along the 90 degree wall along to the window just out of shot. I'm I being to ambitious? Would some kind of tiled look wall art be better (after making the walls sound again)?

2 For what it's worth, we're also looking for something to cover the bath (can't afford the whole removal factor) and also creating something like a mini bulk head to cover the taps etc.
If you can imagine any of that, the idea is to be able to use the end of the bath in shot as a seat... and we haven't found our screening solution yet, other than the left of the shower is to have a new screen to protect the vanity (to come and out of shot on the left). I'd like an opening screen across the front of the shower, though I'm not sure how to adhere it to the bath tub, if that's even at all possible. I don't want a bath half screen returned, if I can get away with it. Any suggestions?

I'll probably be back with other questions along the way... actually... just like this... does this look like this bathroom was ever waterproofed to you?

lost a bit of tile removing the glass frame - this tile could be replaced with a white tile if the rest can be painted white with something like the Dulux renovation range? Do I just scrape, sand, seal (Dulux Precision seal and bind), sand, seal again (Dulux 1 step prep), and paint with Dulux bathroom and kitchen? I'm not sure this bathroom was ever sealed, let alone waterproofed?
This is either side of the shower tiling.

First things first, I'm the scraping queen right now. While I'm doing that, I could really do with some help in the above areas, if possible. Creativity can be a beautiful thing, albeit super tiring... but loving it. 🙂

Thanks in advance.
Cue: Welcome To My Nightmare. ♫

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Jason

Hi @WreckitRita,

We're here to help!

You might like to take a little step back and share with us a sketch of the current bathroom floorplan with dimensions, and a sketch of what you are planning.

Some idea of your budget might also be helpful.

Then some of our experienced community members, including our resident Bunnings D.I.Y. experts, will be in a much better position to provide advice.

In regards to your initial question, I would doubt that you could get a seamless look between painted and non-painted tiles. I would consider tiles a relatively cheap item, so would be looking at replacing all the tiles if you possibly can.

But again, it's difficult to comment without knowing your whole plan and budget, and whether this is a quick "makeover" or a complete renovation.

Many thanks,

Jason

EricL

Hello @WreckitRita

I understand your desire to renovate your bathroom into a beautifully decorated space. But there are some technical hurdles that will hold you back and prevent you from doing what you want to achieve. I propose holding back on your plans in regards to a partial renovation of your bathroom. Old painted tiles next to new perfect glossy tiles will be noticeable. It would be advisable to properly eliminate your old taps rather than covering them up with a bulkhead.

Installing a proper shower panel would be better than getting a custom glass piece that you would be replacing at some point down the line. By holding off for a couple of months and marshalling your budgetary resources, you can have the entire area properly waterproofed and retiled. This would be my suggested main goal, because once you have a properly tiled bathroom everything else can follow.

I recommend getting a quote from a bathroom renovator on how much it would cost to waterproof and retile your bathroom only. You can save on this by doing your own demolition and choosing your own tiles.

You can save up for a wall hanging vanity such as the Cibo 900mm Coast Veneer Tonic Wall Hung Vanity. I suggest looking at the Mondella 900 x 1830mm Chrome Semi Frameless Shower Screen for your shower area. There is no need to rush your bathroom revamp, if you plan it carefully you can properly transform that space into something that you'll be happy to see every day.

I also suggest having a look at this guide - How to plan a bathroom renovation by @Adam_W.

Let me call on our experienced members @redbournreno, @prettyliving and @lifestylebymari for their recommendations.

If you have any other questions we can help with, please let us know.

Eric

WreckitRita

Thanks @Jason,

There is no budget to speak of. It's as small a makeover as we can manage out of necessity. I'll try to explain things better.
We will get what we absolutely have to and be saving like mad as I make my way through fixing the walls, firstly.

The tiles to be painted are those you can see in the shower recess, they're also around the top of the bath, along the side of the bath (as you can see) and they also go around the plinth around the shower as well as one row around the bottom of the walls in a 2800 x 1520mm bathroom. It's a lot of tiling and semi demoing to re-do if replacing them all, hence the idea to just paint. The floor is also covered in smaller tiles and would be painted.

The only tiling I was considering was at the end of the bath next to the batch of wall tiles you can see in the first photo and to the height of those shower tiles - and potentially the same amount of tiles on the other wall showing the bath taps.
However, as you have mentioned, the pairing between painted and non-painted tiles would unlikely be a seamless look. I'll give it some more thought. The wall areas at the end of the bath in the photo might have to be a contrasting scene instead. It's all about trying to waterproof the walls at the end of the bath.

Thanks for that.

Other material
We're also looking to lay a 1520 x 720mm waterproof board over the top of the bath, like a table top. It would have to be cut to size and either come in white or be able to be painted.
The end of the bath next to the shower you can see in the photo would be covered.

Using the same board material, I'd like to create an inverted, bracketed L shape, so 1520mm long x 2 sides @ 150mm, to lay on the bath cover against the wall you can see with the taps to hide the taps - like a mini inverted bulkhead. This would become a type of long shelf (the length of the bath) 150mm x 150mm.
- the end of the bath in the photo would now be covered and if standing in the shower, you would also be able to sit on that end, rather than bring a chair into the shower for which there is no room.
In the first photo, you can still see the vertical support bar for what was an over bath shower screen (both now removed) attached to the shower tiles.
Not wanting to replace that over bath screen so people can sit on the end of the covered bath, we thought the untiled/uncovered wall surrounds would need to be waterproofed or protected from shower spray in some way. Hence the idea to cover them in tiles or wall art or something. Or will sealing and repainting them be enough to protect them? Would there be a need to waterproof those sections of the walls you can see in the first photo?

About the shower next to the bath
There is a plinth around the shower that we can't remove because it's also attached to the bath, so we're trying to work with what we have. The shower is 900mm (from the bath edge) x 840mm deep (from the tiled shower wall) along the outside of the plinth. The plinth is 150mm h x 100mm deep, so the inside of the plinth - the shower floor tile area is 800 x 740mm. The same tiles on the shower wall and everywhere else also covers the plinth.
Painting tiles really is the only almost affordable option we can think of short of a full renovation job which is out of the question.
I would just love to have a pro job done - but we are where we are. So, I'm trying to be creative. 🙂

The shower screening

As mentioned, the half screen that was attached to that end of the bath isn't returning.
The plinth runs adjacent to the shower tiles and is attached to the side of the bath
The other side of the plinth runs adjacent to the bath - this is the side that had another glass screen attached.
There WAS a curved shower curtain bar that run between both shower screens.

So - imagine looking directly at the shower tiles.
The glass screen on the left can be replaced.
The glass screen that was attached to the bath won't be replaced.
If we wanted to put some kind of screen door in the front of the shower, there are only two places to attach it, one of which seems to be at the bath where the plinth meets the bath. That doesn't seem like enough height to create stability for a glass panel or bar. So we think, flip it and have the door either slide open from the right, or open outwards from the right. However, there would only be the slide rail and potentially a vertical bar between the two edges of the glass to hold it in place. Is that even doable?... how am I going to put two glass walls together and stabilize them?
The previous screen (opposite the over bath screen) was mounted on the plinth and attached to the wall in the same way, with bar.
The shower area comes out to approximately half way into the room.

I started typing this the moment I woke up... since then, I've been messing around with imagery to try to help. I hope this does.

bathroom layout hopes.jpg
edit: Thanks @EricL - however, I've already done the whole quotes thing and there's no way known to man for us to get there. We will never be able to afford getting trades to do anything. However, thank you for the info. The vanity you suggested in white would do perfectly.

FYI: The walls.
And I'm doing most of this work myself as an older woman living with a disability, so trust me... the least amount of demo, the better. I'll do what I can to get us to a point where we can function in a healthier and hopefully more attractive space.

MitchellMc

Hi @WreckitRita,

I thought I'd jump into the conversation as well.

It sounds like you've got a lot on your plate with this project, but you're clearly putting in the effort to make the space work. I'll focus on your tiling question first.

Painting tiles, while a budget-friendly option, will almost always have some visible difference compared to new tiles, especially in terms of texture and finish. The Dulux Renovation Range is great, but it may not give you the same shine or feel as fresh glossy tiles. If the area you're tiling is highly visible, such as next to the bath or in direct contrast to new tiles, the difference could be more pronounced. However, if budget constraints are a big factor, you could try to make it work by keeping the painted and non-painted tiles in separate zones (like keeping all painted tiles within the shower recess) to minimise the contrast.

As for the waterproofing, it's definitely important, especially around the bath and in the shower area. Even though you can't afford a full renovation, you'll need to ensure that any surface exposed to water is well-protected. Using tile paint in conjunction with proper prep steps like sealing will help, but it’s worth checking that the walls under those tiles have been waterproofed as well. If you're not sure whether it’s been done in the past, you might need to reapply a waterproof membrane, especially in areas like the bath surround and shower, where water exposure is high.

For the bath, your idea of covering it with a waterproof board is an interesting solution. You can cut the board to fit and then paint or tile over it. For the mini bulkhead to cover the taps, just make sure the materials you use are suitable for a wet area and are sealed well to prevent water ingress.

Regarding the shower screen, it sounds like you’re working within the limitations of your existing setup. A sliding shower screen could work, but if you’re concerned about stability, consider a semi-frameless option with a more secure mounting system. Some screens can be fixed at the base as well as the wall, providing extra stability. Alternatively, a hinged screen that opens outward from the wall might offer a better seal without needing to attach it directly to the bath.

You’ve clearly put a lot of thought into this, and your creativity will go a long way in transforming your space within budget. Just keep in mind the importance of waterproofing and balancing aesthetics with practicality.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell

WreckitRita

Thanks @MitchellMc
Yeah... I had already determined that there is probably another answer, rather than trying match old and new tiles. It's a rabbit hole that could end up being more trouble than it's worth in the end. We'll see what happens when we get there. If I'm completely insane by that stage, I may even paint new tiles just to match the old... I may or may not be jesting.

There are a few bath cover top ideas already out there ranging from retractable slats to decking and even doors. I'll work that out when I get there too. Here are a few bathtub cover ideas from a quick Pinterest search

The screen - yes, I'm working with a 40 year old house that I had no say in building. Semi-frameless would need to be the go.
The previous full length screen was attached to the wall with a bar and just sealed along the bottom where it was attached to the plinth. It took a bit of effort to remove it - it was stable.

Everything we've talked about may be semi moot... or... at least, it may be a very long time before we can use the bathroom again.
I've been scraping walls and discovering things... one of which is rising damp behind and under the current basin cabinet.
Earlier this year we had our gutters replaced and roof tiles resealed (and the water heater went too - so we're now strapped).
The gutter area outside near the bathroom/toilet had apparently rusted and water was making it's way through the eaves and found it's way to down between the bricks and hello bathroom, toilet and laundry. I've already redone the toilet because the water issue has been remedied. That was my test room to see if I could approach the bathroom. I had my multi-tool ready to start re-grouting before I asked the simple question about old and new tiles on my way through.
Here's a pretty pic... I have a really awful feeling that the same problem will be happening behind the shower tiles too (directly to the right).

We had been caring for my elderly Mum when our kids were hit with the rental crisis and everyone ended up here in our small house. Now everyone is gone, it's our turn. Well... maybe. This is going to be a very long, arduous, almost physically impossible project. Hand me the hammer and chisel... I think I'm going to have to go into the shower tiles - and probably the bath too. Its a 1980s house. I'm thinking all of the very connected tiles were the answer to non existent waterproofing back then. That may have been fine if we hadn't lost the gutters during life's trials.

Onwards... and thanks for your time.

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